Shoe and foot normalizer



Feb. 6, 1934. H. G. HALL v 1,946,317

SHOE AND FOOT NORMALIZER .Original Filed Nov. 7, 1929 w VENTOR Patented Feb. 6, 1934 SHOE AND FOOT NORlVIALllZER Harry Glen Hall,

New York, N. Y.

Application November 7, 1929, Serial No. 405,377 Renewed May 18, 1933 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a normalizer which is adapted to be placed within a shoe for the purpose of affording the proper support to the wearers foot.

Shoes for womens wear, as manufactured at present, are characterized by a high heel and a sharply curving instep portion. The sole proper of the shoe is integral with the instep portion, and at the junction between the sole and the instep, a recess is formed due to the height of the heel and the shortness of the instep. I have found that this recess is the cause of much discomfort to the wearer of the shoe and has even more serious adverse effects, in that it tends to poor posture and the various internal troubles that may be produced thereby.

The recess at the junction of the sole and instep portions of the present high-heeled shoes, hereinbefore mentioned, permits the metatarsal arch of the wearer to sinkto an abnormal position, and also causes the bony structure of the foot to .be displaced from its normal alinement as well as the entire bony structure of the body.

In order to remedy the defects in shoes built according to present designs, I provide a normalizer to fill the recess characteristic of highheeled shoes, so that the wearers foot is not permitted to take up an abnormal position, but is properly supported and maintained in its natural position and curvature. The normalizer may be made of leather, or any convenient substitute, and is shaped to fit within the recess already described. It is provided with a curved surface conforming to the contour of the arch of the foot. The normalizer may be placed within shoes already manufactured, over the inner sole thereof, or may be placed between the outer sole and the inner sole during the course of manufacture.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating a present preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a partial-sectional view of a highheeled shoe having the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the support for the right shoe;

Figure 3 is a transverse section along the line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Figure 4 is a similar view along the line IV-IV.

Referring to the drawing, a high-heeled shoe of ordinary design and construction is indicated at 10. The sole of the shoe includes a heel portion '11 overlying the heel proper 12, an instep portion 13, which is sharply arched to meet the sole portion proper 14, which, of course, must be tangent to the plane passing through the base of the heel 12. Because of the shortness of the instep portion from the front edge of the heel to the rear edge of the sole portion 14, and the considerable height of the heel 12, a concave recess 15 is formed at the intersection of the sole 14 with the instep portion 13. The depth of this recess depends to some extent on the height of the heel 12, being greater for greater heights of heels.

It will be obvious from Fig. 1 that, when the wearers foot is positioned within the shoe 10, the recess 15 permits the foot to assume an unnatural position such that the metatarsal arch is deformed and the other bones of the foot are forced out of normal alinement. The resultant cramping of the wearers toes may make it possible for a smaller shoe to be fitted than can comfortably be worn, because the toes are contracted by the deformation referred to. Therecess formed at 15 is the inducing cause of many foot troubles and others of even more serious nature. The faulty support afiorded the metatarsal arch tends to enlarge the ankles, and produces leg and back aches and sacro-illiac strain. As before mentioned, it also tends to cause faulty posture and places the foot bones in an abnormal relation which brings on foot aches and callouses.

In order to remedy the disadvantages specified hereinbefore which characterize the present style of foot wear, I have invented a device illustrated generally at 16 which I term a foot and shoe normalizer. The shape of the normalizer 16 may be best observed in Fig. 2. roughly triangular shape with its sides suitably curved. The front edge is indicated at 17, and 18 and 19 indicate the inner and outer edges thereof. The portion 20 rests on the curved instep portion, as shown at 21 in Fig. 1. The normal'zer extends the full width of the shoe and its shape varies with that of the recess 15.

The contour of the surfaces of the normalizer will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, which are sectional views along the lines III-III and IV IV, respectively, of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the normalizer has convex upper and lower surfaces which are arched from side to side. The lower surface 22 is given a more pronounced arch in order to properly fill the recess 15. The upper surface 23 is given a slight transverse arch, conforming to the natural curvature of the sole of the wearers foot. I

In Fig. 4 is shown the longitudinal curvature of the upper and lower surfaces of the normalizer. The upper surface 23 has a slight longitudinal curvature conforming to the arch of the wearers The normalizer is of foot, while the lower surface 22 is so arched as to completely fill the recess 15.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the normalizer is inserted into the recess formed in a manufactured shoe. The wearers foot is indicated in outline at 24. The normalize'r may b'cemented or otherwise secured to the shoe, and as previously stated, may be placed therein during the course of manufacture. According to present methods of manufacture, however, it is impossible to eliminate the recess 15 without providing a filler, insert, or normalizer, such as that shown at 16, since the high heels now in vogue require a sharply curved instep portion, such as that shown at 13. The support may be formed from leather or any suitable substitute material, and its shape may be altered to conform to different styles and sizes of shoes. Instead of being solid, it may be hollow and formed from sheet material. While I have illustrated the normalizer in connection with a high-heeled shoe, it will be apparent that it has application to shoes of various styles and has utility even with shoes having comparatively low heels.

Among the numerous advantages which result from the use of the invention, may be mentioned the fact that it tends to reduce and strengthen abnormally large ankles. from leg and back aches, eliminates sacro-illiac strain, and tends to correct faulty posture. The proper support is given to the foot bones which are maintainedin normal position so as to remove undue strain from the arches and ligaments. Since the destructive dip under the metatarsal arch of the wearers foot is entirely removed by the use of the normalizer, the major cause of foot aches and callouses is eliminated. Improper fitting is prevented because the toes are maintained straight and if a short shoe is fitted, the wearer will immediately perceive the fact.

lt will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the foot indicated at 24 is supported in its normal position at all points. There is no de structive falling of the metatarsal arch adjacent It also affords relief' the recess 15, and the foot bones are in no way displaced from their normal position. All unnecessary strain is avoided, and the foot comfort of the wearer is markedly increased.

Although I have described but asingle modification of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe. art to which it pertains that numerous changes and modifications thereof may be found desirable. It is,..therefore, not my intention to be limited to the specific details of the described embodiment since any such changes which fall within the spirit of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An arch support adapted to fill the recess formed between the shank and the substantially fiat portion of a shoe sole, comprising a resilient member having a curved front edge substantially 7 as wide as the interior of the shoe, a curved outside edge, and a substantially straight inside edge, the side edges tapering to a rounded rear end, said member having both its top and bottom surfaces curved transversely and longitudinally, the curvature of the lower surface exceeding that of the upper.

2. A device for normalizing the arch of a shoe and the foot of the wearer comprising a support adapted to fit in the recess between the fiat portion and the shank of the sole of a shoe, the bottom of the support having a greater transverse curvature than the top and the top of the support having a greater longitudinal curvature than the bottom.

3. An insert for a shoe having a recess between the flat portion and the shank of its sole, comprising a resilient member of generally triangular shape having outwardly curving front, side, and rear edges and a substantially straight inner edge, the top of said member having a greater longitudinal curvature than the bottom, and the bottom having a greater transverse curvature than the top. 7

HARRY GLEN HALL. 

